Rating: 
Summary: Great advice...
Review: ...about how to deal with pain and suffering as part of the human condition....but read with caution. A lot of the advice given is fairly clingy-- Although she claims that she is not clinging to anything, I can see an emotional complex being built right here. Turns out that the complex is just a house o' cards. She always says not to cling to hope and fear and to welcome loneliness into your life. And that you can do this through meditation. The effect is that instead of clinging to things we normally cling to (hopes and fears--more specifically dreams, wishes, desires,____ <--insert your own word or description of what you hold dear in your life, and most important of all, LOVE!) she tells us not to cling entirely. But based on the literal definition of the human condition, it's impossible not to cling to something--or rather I like to use the word 'lean'. If you've got friends, you lean on them for support. If you have loved ones, you care for them, which can also be described as a form of 'clinging'. Of course only you can make this distinction but I must warn you about falling into trap of pretending that you're not clinging when you really are: if you find yourself constantly and constantly returning to the same things, you're clinging to something, in this case, her words. By following them so closely and becoming obsessed with the truth, you're just finding someone else to cling to and [mis]representing the reasons why you are doing so. I tried meditation, and being a person who used to believe in Christianity, I can definitely tell when a complex is being formed. You know how Christians can be so good at making their religion sound like it's the only evangelical way to go? And how the religion preaches that you must spread it everywhere (reference to many places in the bible, specifically Matthew Ch. 28 is the most popular "version" of this idea)? The same kind of thing happens here. Go look up this word in the dictionary, and ponder why the word was invented (all words start because they're needed to describe some kind of new feeling or phenom or idea): catharsis Meditation being a large part of her teaching, I guess I should address this issue. There are many meanings to the word "meditation". It is a broad word that can be used to represent all kinds of spiritual experiences. Listening to music can be meditation. Concentrating on breathing when you are not tired is also another way. Touching other people or things can be a meditative or 'spiritual' experience. I compare 'meditation' to 'Spirituality' as I would compare 'empathy' to 'Compassion'. There's a big 'C' when it comes to compassion, but empathy is a natural branch off of this main idea. Same with 'meditation' to Spirituality. However, meditation is not the only thing when it comes to spirituality. If you believe it is the only thing, you'll probably find yourself meditating too frequently because you'll be constantly searching for something that always seems to be out of reach or missing. Now, to put my point in perspective, think about 'empathy' to 'Compassion'. There is a drug called MDMA or more popularly known as Ecstasy. This drug's main effect is to create extreme feelings of empathy--note that it doesn't create compassion, but rather, empathy. This is an important point to think about when it comes to your own life, and what's acceptable for you. It's duration lasts on average from 5 minutes to an hour. At the beginning of its production, before it was made illegal by the U.S. government (it's still legal in many European countries), it was backed-up by many major psychiatrists until they discovered that it could cause permanent damage to certain brain stems in people using it (it destroys currently existing stems and regrows them in abnormal ways). Now the actual scientific facts are not that important--what's really important is to ask yourself this question: "Have you ever considered empathy to be like a drug?" Usually we pester ourselves and others to have more empathy. Now ask this question: "Have you ever considered meditation to be like a drug?" The final thing I'd have to say about this book, and all of her books for that matter, is that she never addresses sex and sexuality. Where do these fit into the spiritual world? She never talks about sensuality either. People like her never talk about these things and I doubt they EVER will. Many monks like her actually struggle with thoughts of sexuality. When the thoughts come up, they simply (here we go again) meditate and call it "Thinking". They tell you, "say it out loud if you need to." But by no means ever accept it. Bottom line: it's true, pain is a human condition, you can easily learn that from any of her books (as they are essentially all the same), but also keep in mind that if you plan to follow all of her advice, get ready to say "Thinking" a lot. 8 worldly dharmas
7 swans a swimming 6 kinds of loneliness
5 golden rings!
4 maras
3 french hens
2 turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree! Borrowing from another reviewer, "I couldn't resist!" But otherwise, there is some very good spiritual information in this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Warning to vulnerable readers!
Review: This information is harmful to readers who are at a vulnerable place in their lives and are seriously looking for caring assistance. Rather than encouraging the reader that things will get better, the author tells them that they have no hope and to just deal with it. Terrible - I came away from it very angry.
Rating: 
Summary: A must read
Review: I first head of this book in a wonderful magazine review I read. I picked it up during a time of ambiguity and exploration in my life, and have found myself recommending the book to all of my friends and family. From the first chapter, I was completely captivated by Chodron's perspective on fear, groundlessness, and life in general--so much so that I typed out portions of the book to email to my friends. All of them responded wanting to know more. Here's one of the excerpts I sent: Letting there be room for not knowing is the most important thing of all. We try to do what we think is going to help. But we don't know. We never know if we're going to fall flat or sit up tall. When there's a big disappointment, we don't know if that's the end of the story. It may be just the beginning of a great adventure. Chodron is one of the most clear and accessible writers on Buddhism that I have read to date. The thoughts and ideas she presents are not intuitive--at least not for non-Buddhists like myself--but they are absolutely fascinating and inspire you to explore and learn more about this philosophy. Next to Sylvia Boorstein, Chodron's books are a must read for anyone interested in an invigoratingly "new" (for Westerners, anyway) perspective on life and death.
Rating:
Summary: a companion for when you're in a dark place
Review: this is one of my all time favorite books. the title says it all. this book could be called a lifesaver. i wouldn't recommend reading this if you're not experiencing hard times,because i think you may miss the message. but if/when you are,this will help to you to come out of it stronger and better. and it's a friend while you are 'there'.
Rating:
Summary: Directly to the point
Review: This author is the clearest I have read. I read a lot of Buddhist books, but she is directly to the point. And it is directed to when any philosophy or practice is needed -- when things go wrong, not when everything is fine and it's easy to be equanimous. This small book has helped me more than I can express. The one after this one, The Places that Scare You, is also tremendous.
Rating:
Summary: do not read this book if you are suicidal.
Review: This book asks the impossible of anyone who is clinically depressed: to find joy in despair. If you are a healthy, functioning adult, you may be able to "move into the fear" and "totally experience hopelessness, giving up all alternatives to the present moment," but if you are truly in despair, you may just take the final, obvious, inevitable step. I found this book self-satisfied, self-promoting, and pedantic.
Rating:
Summary: Changed my life
Review: I recommend this book to any and everyone. I had been depressed for years and years and been to a doctor that didn't help too much, when I just happened to start reading this book. I read the first chapter and knew right away that I was on to something new and exciting that could help me. Once I read more, this book completely changed the way I see life and the way I view myself and my suffering. It turned me on to meditation and zen study and I have been doing it ever since and it has changed me and singlehandedly gotten rid of the depression. So, go out and read this book, regardless of whether you're depressed or not, or whether you believe in buddhist beliefs or not. This beautiful book can be helpful to anyone. It's something I go back and read when I'm having problems and something I've recommended to lots of people. A truely wonderful book.
Rating:
Summary: Depressed/suicidal? Be joyful, there is no way out.
Review: Perhaps it is a bold statement, but after dealing with depression and anxiety caused by loneliness for longer than I am able to remember, this book is the first teaching to show me that abandoning hope of someday having it all together is the only way to deal with things. Your life is here, now, and that is the only way to live it. A brilliant way to follow up this book would be to read Pema's "The Wisdom of No Escape." Her words have effected me emontionally, spiritually, and personally. I don't think I am capable of expressing the sense of gratitude I feel towards Pema's explanation of extremely relevant teachings about the human condition.
Rating:
Summary: wonderful, soothing book
Review: I read this book on the plane on the way home to deal with a difficult situation. By the time I landed, I was grateful for the opportunity to grow through this particular challenge. As usual, Pema Chodron gives her soft "motherly" insights and dare I say, advice, on living a more fulfilled life.
Rating:
Summary: A Jewel!
Review: Everyone should have this book! It's amazing...every line is a little jewel. It's not just for difficult times, it's a good philosophy for life in general. We can learn from all our experiences as lessons for growth. I like to give this to friends growing through issues. It is a beautifully written, easy to read book. Treat yourself today...Peace.
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